Here's a Tip on Handling Criticism

[PlanetCaroline]

Tip: When a superior is offering "constructive criticism" the best thing to do is listen intently and when he or she is finished start off by saying:

Thank you for caring enough to share your constructive feedback with me.

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I learned this tip over 10 years ago in a training program. The point of the tip was that the best way to handle criticism is with gratitude. It is important to learn from criticism & it can help us be better on the job.

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I used this tip for the first time ever when my instructor pulled me into the hall to offer constructive feedback about me expressing negative feelings during class. I was so embarrassed when she asked to "speak to me in private" so I decided that I would be grateful and thankful for whatever criticism she offered.

My cheeks burned scarlet as she talked to me, but I didn't cry. When I thanked her, she was shocked! Literally, her mouth dropped open & she started to sputter so I had to repeat that I appreciated her feedback b/c she expected me to be defensive.

:imbar

I am glad that I got my first dressing down for classroom rather than clinical behavior. I don't think I will ever like getting criticized, but because I treated my instructor with respect, I felt very proud of my maturity.

Caroline

P. S. Never in my life has a higher up ever wanted to talk to me in private to tell me what a great job I am doing.

:chuckle

[eldragon]

I would like to take your advice, but in the situation where I do not respect the person criticizing me, wouldn't it seem like I was sucking up?

Wouldn't they assume I was brown-nosing?

[alkaleidi]

Tip: When a superior is offering "constructive criticism" the best thing to do is listen intently and when he or she is finished start off by saying:

Thank you for caring enough to share your constructive feedback with me.

Amen to that. My nurse educator recently gave me another view of feedback that I thought was really valuable as well.

In a nutshell, she basically said that when you are learning, whether in school or orientating on a new unit, feedback you get your first few months is NOT "constructive criticism," it's education. She said, "I'm not criticizing you, I'm teaching you. Please don't ever feel that anyone who corrects you or shows you the right way is critiquing -- they are aware that you're still learning, and they're just trying to teach you the correct way. Maybe after 6 months if I tell you that you're doing something wrong and tell you the right way that would be considered "constructive criticism" but not right now."

That comforted me, even though I generally take all 'constructive criticism' as 'learning experience' but it was nice to be reassured that they don't expect you to know everything just because you hold the title of "RN."

:)